Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.

Regarding savings I have in excess of 300,000 US in cash, shares, a non contributory pension fund and have all my medical expenses paid for in the US, I also own a portfolio of non-US property exceeding 3/4 mil US$.

However I'll be taking an effective pay cut to come to the US due to the very weak $ which is why I asked the question about day to day living and expenses. I'll be living solely off my limited salary while my non US investments will be ringfenced outside the $ zone.

edit to add: no debt whatsoever either, not a red cent I don't believe in borrowing money.

You've really got it nailed down, in both theory and practice.

So trust me when I say you'll have no problem living here with that salary.

I echo those who suggest considering the purchase of home after a year of renting. On your salary and with your savings, a house in Montrose or Third Ward, for example, could net you some real dividends in a few years.

I hate to be a smart ass especially when you're talking such sense Texas Mack but the phrase is 'hear hear' as in the auditory sense. It comes from the Houses of Parliament in England and the tradition of town criers and means 'listen' as you'd expect. I feel like a real ass pointing it out but the misuse of the English language is one of my bugbears. Ironic when you consider how poor my own English has become since I moved to non-English speaking countries.
My apologies then, but I couldn't help myself!

I hate to be a smart ass especially when you're talking such sense Texas Mack but the phrase is 'hear hear' as in the auditory sense. It comes from the Houses of Parliament in England and the tradition of town criers and means 'listen' as you'd expect. I feel like a real ass pointing it out but the misuse of the English language is one of my bugbears. Ironic when you consider how poor my own English has become since I moved to non-English speaking countries.
My apologies then, but I couldn't help myself!

Think the main thing is that you have a handle on Houston real estate and the wisdom of investment in the right areas. I'm also a butcher of the English language and appreciate tips myself, particular regarding American adaptions which are my weak point.

Think the main thing is that you have a handle on Houston real estate and the wisdom of investment in the right areas. I'm also a butcher of the English language and appreciate tips myself, particular regarding American adaptions which are my weak point.

I hate to be a smart ass especially when you're talking such sense Texas Mack but the phrase is 'hear hear' as in the auditory sense. It comes from the Houses of Parliament in England and the tradition of town criers and means 'listen' as you'd expect. I feel like a real ass pointing it out but the misuse of the English language is one of my bugbears. Ironic when you consider how poor my own English has become since I moved to non-English speaking countries.
My apologies then, but I couldn't help myself!

HARUMPH!! Harumph!! *bustle* Harumph!!

But I think the pronunciation is closer to "Hair" or "Heeyeh" depending on the celebrator. I have a difficult time accepting that Americans butcher English worse than some of your own countrymen, however.

For example, you will never in the course of conversational American hear anything approximating "Boxy bolly marbly warbles?" It's unintelligble.

And those Scots!! "Bluh da bloo, oor oot yoor moyn." I don't know what that was, probably the whiskey talking.

I don't know what your 'boxy' signifies but I can confirm that 'urban' diction has rendered a sizeable proportion of spoken English largely unintelligible in it's mother country.

If you were to listen to the primates in the Houses of Parliament at 'Prime Minister's questions' then you'd get a good idea of the received English pronunciation of 'hear hear'. Most likely in response to the leader of the opposition rather than our esteemed leader these days however!

Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.